Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-01-12
CHAPTER ".
HOW SIZE MADE HER FIRST FLIGHT.

HOW SIZE MADE HER FIRST FLIGHT.
TRIP watched the mill after this
good deal; without discussing her plan
with any one. it became maturcd in her
brain. Fly she would, and that not
mctaphoricaly, like the Tottcnhams,
from poverty to wealth, from a keeper
cottage to a kings palace like the beg
gar mad-hut bodily, also on the sails of
the mill. She was. Is already said,
shrewd girl and she saw that she must
not allow the miller to suspect she was
still set on her plan. Consequently, she
observed her opportunity on the sly.
She saw that the mill was stopped
when Joe went to his dinner, or when he
was adjusting the stones, without the
sails being iurlcd. The drag was put on,
and the wings brought to stop. Then.
when Joe returned to his work. or when
the stones were ready, the clog WAS
raised, and the arms began again to re-
volvc. This would be her occasion, and
for this she watched and waited
Her scheme was as follows, She had q
strong skipping rope with white handles.
striped yellow, red and blue The cord
passed through these handles, and was
secured by knot at each end. The cord
was new and good, the handles solid.
She could trust her weight 10 the cord; it
would not break, however severely tested
by her
For several days Trip waited behind a
thorn hedge in the bean field. inhalng
the exquisite sweetness of the flowers
can never pass a bean field without re-
calling the words of old Isaac: The
smell of my son is as the smell of field
that the Lord hath blessed"
There is no sweetness like the fra
GRANGE eXhaled by beans-no. not that of
roses, heliotropes orange flowers.
Trip sat behind the hedge. In the
shallow often grew abundant mint, in
gray flower and here and there SHOT up
the pink spires of the willow herb.
When she crushed the mint it exhalcd
scent, but only near the bruised leaves
and stalk, not sufficient to mingle with
and overcome the rich, delicate odor of
the bean
Trip pcered through the thorns at the
mill, whose sails were whirling. and the
whirr came to her through the thorns.
Now she saw the miller in his white Jacket
and cap, with his white busted face at
the door calling TO the boy. and the boy
answered, and brought donkey to the
foot of the mill
Presently Joe end the man STOPPED the
mill, Ii was noon. Trip saw Joe stand
on the steps at the mill door. with his
silver watch in his hand. big watch that
had belonged to his father. Then he
signed to his man to follow. and they
walked toward the cottage.
Trips opportunity had come.
The space, about the mill was clear.
She left the bean field, entered the gate.
and crossed the magic circle traced by
the wheel of the fan that turns the mill
Then she cautiously approached the sta
tionary wings, which were now full
fiedged. tie canvas strained over them to
the topmost, Only light wind was
stirring that day, and every breath had
to be caught and utilized; not a reef was
taken in.
Trip stood behind the sail that rose up-
right from the ground. screened by it
from observation by any one in the road,
in the garden, or cottage. The sail did
not, of course, quite reach the surface
She caught the cross bar and scrambled
on to the wing. 1t had main beam of
great strength, and two sides; across
were the strips of wood, or ''splines,"
thsf held the canvas from bullying In.